GedMcNamee

Biography

Date of birth

Signed

Ged McNamee was confirmed as the Club’s new First Team Coach in May 2018 following the appointment of Matthew Bates as First Team Manager.

The vastly-experienced coach actually began his football career with Pools when he was taken on as a Youth Team player in the late 1970s before graduating to the First Team under Billy Horner.

Having made four appearances for Pools in a stint blighted by injury, McNamee moved on from The Vic and continued to play regular football on the non-league scene.

He always had a keen interest in coaching and had gained qualifications during his time on the books at Pools so was the perfect fit when then Manchester United Youth Team Coach Brian ‘Pop’ Robson invited him to work in one of their regional development centres.

After running the Durham branch of United’s Centre of Excellence for several years he followed Robson to Sunderland where he was named as Centre of Excellence Director.

As part of his remit with The Black Cats, McNamee worked as a coach to various age groups from Under-17s through to the Under-23s and Reserves before being asked to step up to become Academy Manager under Mick McCarthy at the Stadium of Light.

During his two decades with the Wearside outfit, he helped nurture some exceptional talent as he helped bring through the likes of England internationals Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson.

Having left Sunderland in 2016, McNamee returned to football with Pools in February 2018 when Matthew Bates – whom he had coached at Manchester United – enlisted his services on a voluntary basis after taking caretaker charge at The Vic.

McNamee’s impact was evident from the off and his work alongside Bates and Goalkeeper Coach Ross Turnbull helped Pools cement their place in the National League.